Dump truck body



4, 1954 J. P. K. FONTAINE 2,687,224

DUMP TRUCK BODY Filed Oct. 18. 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet. 1

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Aug. 24,

Filed Oct. 18, 1950,

P. K. FONTAINE 2,687,224 DUMP TRUCK BODY 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR.

Patented Aug. 24, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE John P. K. Fontaine,Birmingham, Ala. Application October 18, 1950, Serial No. 190,861

This invention relates to a dump truck body for hauling substantiallyrectangular articles such as bricks, blocks, boxes or the like and hasfor an object the provision of means for clamping and holding thearticles against shifting during loading, unloading and while intransit.

A more specific object of my invention is to provide a hinged connectionbetween the lower edge of the sides of the body and a member mounted forrotation adjacent the side edges of the bottom.

Briefly my invention comprises providing a shiftable dump truck bodywhich is rotatable from a horizontal or carrying position to a verticalI loading and unloading position. The body is open at the top and rearand is provided with clamping means adjacent the rear of the body forholding the articles in the body against shifting. Secured to the bottomadjacent the side edges thereof is a rotatable member which is hingedlyconnected to the lower edge of the sides of the body. When the rotatablemember is rotated in one direction the sides of the body are movedoutwardly and when rotated in the opposite direction the sides are movedinwardly to engage and hold the articles in the body against shifting.

These and other features of my invention are illustrated in theaccompanying drawings forming a part of this application in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a shiftable dump truck bodyembodying my improved retaining mechanism in position to engage a stackof rectangular articles;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the rear portion of the body in loadedposition;

Fig. 3 is an elevational view of my improved dump body on a truck inloaded position;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the hinge employed to pivotally connectthe sides to the bot tom of the body;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line VV of Fig. 3 showing thesides in closed position;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 showing the sides moved to openposition;

Fig. 7 shows a modified form of my invention 3 Claims. (01. 214-147) 2in Robert A. Fontaine Patent No. 1,866,640, dated July 12, 1932. Thedump body II has a bottom l3 and a closed forward end l4 but is open atthe top and rear, or lower end. The body is provided with sides [Band l1which are adapted to move transversely and engage the articles [5 in thebody and hold the same against shifting, as will be describedhereinafter. v a

At the rear of the body adjacent the bottom thereof is a cross beam l8.Secured to the cross beam adjacent each end thereof is a vertically ex-'tending pressure operated cylinder l9 having a piston 2| and a pistonrod 22. The upper portion of the piston rod 22 is threaded to receive anut 23. Extending across the rear of the body adjacent the top thereofand substantially parallel to the cross beam [8 is a clamping bar 24adapted to be engaged and retained by the nuts 23 as shown in Fig. 2.When the piston rod 22 is moved downwardly the rear or bottom course ofrectangular articles are firmly held against shifting.

Secured to the side edges of the bottom l3 are a plurality of brackets26 having an opening therethrough to slidably receive an elongatedtubular member 21 which extends substantially the length of the sides ofthe body. Each of the sides l6 and I1 is pivotally connected adjacentthe lower edge thereof to the adjacent tubular member 21 by means of apiano hinge 28. The piano hinge may be formed by placing a plurality oftubular members 29 between the lower edge of the sides [6 and I1 and theadjacent tubular member 21. Alternate ones of the tubular members 29 arewelded to the elongated tubular memwith pressure operated means forrotating the elongated tubular member.

Referring now to the drawing for a better understanding of my invention,I show in Fig. 1 a fragment H) of a truck having a shiftable dump bodyII hingedly connected thereto by means of a hinge plate l2 and which ismovable from a horizontal or carrying position to a vertical loading andunloading position, for example as shown ber 21 and the others arewelded to the lower edge of the side [6 or l1 as the case may be. A rod3! is then inserted through the tubular members 29 to hold them inassembled position.

Secured to the elongated tubular member 27, preferably adjacent thecenter thereof, is a lever 32 for rotating the member 27. The lever isso positioned on the tubular member 21 that when the lever is movedupwardly to vertical position, the side of the body is moved inwardly toclosed position, as shown in Fig. 5. When the lever is moved downwardly,as shown in Fig. 6, the side of the body is moved outwardly to openposition. To hold the lever in the closed position, one end of a linkchain 33 is secured to the side of the body. When the lever 32 is movedto vertical or closed position a link of the chain 33 is slipped overthe upper thus retaining the lever in a vertical position.

From the foregoing description, the operation of my improved dumptruckbody will be readily a substantially portion of the lever- 3 understood.In loading a stack of rectangular articles, such as bricks, the clampingmember 24 is removed. The lever 32 is then moved downwardly therebyrotating the hinge 28 and the side connected thereto outwardly to openposition, as shown in Fig. 6. The body H is next moved to the verticalor loading position in a manner well understood and is moved rearwardlyso as to place the stack of rectangular articles wholly within -theconfines of the body. The sides l6"aifdl1are'then moved to closedposition by moving the lever 32 upwardly to a vertical position. A linkof the chain 33 is then placed over the upper portion of the lever thus"holding the sides in closed position. When the sides are moved inwardlyto closed position the :articles within the body are firmlyheld-againstshifting.

After securing the sides in closed position, the clamping member 24 isplaced over the bottom course of articles l5 and is moved downwardly bymeans ofthepistorr ro'd=22. The body is then -moved to horizontalorcarrying position.

Referring to-Fig. 7,-1: show a modified form of my invention wherebyithe'elongated bar 21 is rotated by means of apressure cylinder 34having a; piston rod 3'6 .which'is operably connected to-thetubularmember 21 through a link 31.

While I have shown myzinvention in but two forms, it'will beobvioustothose skilled inthe art that it: is not-so limited but is-susceptiblerofvarious other changesandmodifications without departing from the spiritthereof, and Idesire therefore, that only such limitations shall beplaced thereuponeas are specifically set forth'in the app ended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a dump truck body forhaulingsubstantially rectangular articlesincluding a bottom'and substantially parallel sides,-said body beingopen at the top and rear and movabletfromia horizontal carrying positionto a vertical loading and unloading position, a, plurality of bracketssecured to the side edges of the bottom; each bracket having alongitudinally extending iopening'there- A through, elongated tubularmembers extendin substantially parallel ito 1 said i side edges:aan'clrmtatably mounted in said brackets, a piano hinge connecting saidelongated member to the lower edge of the sides of the body, a leversecured to the rotatable member for rotating the same, means to hold thelever in closed position and clamping means engaging the bottom courseof articles when said body is in said vertical loading and unloadingposition and holding the same against shifting. k

2. In aa'dumptruck body 'aszdefined in claim 1 in which the meanstohold'the lever in closed position comprises a link chain secured atone end to the side of the body and having a link.

at'the opposite end thereof disposed to fit over the upper portion ofthe lever.

3; In a dump truck body for hauling substantially rectangular articlesincluding a bottom and substantially parallel sides, said body beingopen at the top and rear and movable from a horizontal carrying positionto a vertical loading and unloading position, theimprovem'ent comprisingelongate'di'members mounted 'fori'r'otation in fixed bearings :adjacentthe side edges of 1 the 'bottom and extending: substantially. parallel ito said side edges, a :piano hinge "connecting. each rotatable membertothe lower e'dge of'the a'djacent side of the'bodygmeans to rotat'e th'e:rotatable members and .thereby moveithe sides inwardly to engagearticles in the body, and clamping'means engaging theabottom course-of Iarticles when the body is in said vertical loading and unloadingposition 1 and r holding the same against ishifting.

References Cited in'the file of this J patent UNITED srrzrrss PATENTSNumber Name Date 1",'O99,847 Doble G1; 31. .June 9,1914 1,371,392 Pllfild Mar. 15, 1921 2,308,648 D'Vry et a1 Jan. 19, 1943 2,379,254 Rainbuh'June26, 1945 2,458,799 "Sattler Jail. .11, 1949 2,458,999 "Pettl'er May13, 1949 2,491,805 Fontail le .Dec. .20, 1949 2,552,627 -F0ntaine -QMELY15,1951

